John Hodgson wrote:I started playing London League 1st Division chess in 1978, and I don't remember playing against a second team for many years (but maybe I've forgotten).
I too started playing London League chess in 1978, but I began in a lower division.
Back then the League Rules precluded a club having more than one team in any division other than the lowest. This of course explains why you didn't play against second teams. I can't recall exactly when the rule was changed - mid 1980s would be my guess.
John Hodgson wrote:So I think this is a problem, and I wonder whether others agree with me (because I'm thinking of a solution).
I admire the imaginative solution you found for the adjournment / quickplay finish issue, so I await your ideas with interest.
However, speaking personally I'm not convinced that there is a problem at the present time.
By contrast I definitely felt that there was a problem in 1978. The then situation was fine for the 1st Division, but the lower divisions were not infrequently dominated by teams which were too strong for the division in which they playing, but couldn't be promoted as their club also had a team in the division above. This diminished the quality and integrity of the competition in those divisions.